Nothing wrong in that, in fact it's a beautiful phase! But somewhere along the way, we Indians have made it as an unspoken rule - After a certain age, one is expected to slow down and take it easy!
Now look elsewhere, in the developed countries (and maybe other not so developed ones too).... You will find 60- and 70-year olds are still working & travelling.. even running ultramarathons, doing cross-country cycling or climbing up mountain peaks! For them, age isn't a signal to slow down but just a number on the calendar.
Over time, the divergence reflects in something deeper - the health of the seniors in any country. The contrast between India and its developed peer nations isn't just economic - it's physical, psychological and social !
And that contrast gets you thinking 🤔
Our parents' generation had a very different journey. In the India of 1970s and 1980s, the opportunities were limited, income levels were modest and aspirations were largely centred around stability. Many would have left their hometowns in their 20s to larger cities, looking for jobs, struggled through their 30s and 40s going through managing their life responsibilities - building a career from scratch, raising families, buying a home, funding our education etc. Signing up for a marathon or planning an international holiday would not have featured in their their Top 100 goals !!
We, on the other hand, have had a different runway. India's economic transformation meant better opportunities, higher income, global exposure and access to better healthcare and education. means more awareness to health and fitness. Aspirations are broader and this also means we now have a choice.
Maybe our "second innings" would not have to be the same as that of our parents.... Maybe it can be more active, more adventurous and more intentional.
So here's a thought that's been playing in my mind - personally I don't want to celebrate my superannuation at 58/60.. instead I would want to run an ultramarathon on my 70th birthday.
Sounds ambitious? Probably yes.... Unrealistic? Maybe not, if the next 20-25 years are spent in the right way.
The way we work, eat, recover and prioritise our health today...that's what defines how our Tommorow will look like. In addition to the Mutual Fund SIP to build a retirement corpus, it's time that we do one hour daily of Health SIP too.
Our parents gave us a better starting point, the least we can do is to take it further ! The real goal should not be to just live longer, but rather to live better at every stage - sixty and beyond !
Cheers
Sunil
